Closure device



Feb. ll, 1936. H. QijrrTNl-:R CLosURE DEVICE Filed June 25, 1934 Patented Feb. I11,'1e36 lumn-:o STATES PATENT/OFFICE neiricll'gie, Ivfiausta Application June 25, 1934, serial No. 732,361

1n Austria July 12,1933

1 claim. (Cl. zal-s0) I have illed applications in Austria on the 12th July 1933 and in Germany on the 29th January 1934, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved closure device for collapsible tubes. Closure devices are already known for this purpose which consist of a closure'member pivoted by means of a stirrup-shaped element on the neck portion or cap of the tube, and adapted to yieldresiliently on passing overthe rim of the orice of the tube with a view to obtaining a snap engagement of the closure member over the orice.

The productionof closure devices of this type necessitates a high degree ofi accuracy in the dimensioning of the closure memberand in the,v

mounting of the stirrup-shaped holding element on the neck or capvportion of the tube, since the resilient deformation ofthe closure .member on passing over the rim of the oriiice must be of-a certain-magnitude to ensure satisfactory closure, but'at the same time may not exceed a certain amount since otherwise the operation of the device is apt to require too much force and consequently to be attended by deformationv of the tube and loss of the substance contained in the tube.

According to the present invention these drawbacks are obviated by mounting a snap closure member on the middle re-entrant portion of a dual link or pivoted holding element. The free ends of the outer limbs of this holding element are'pivoted to the neck or gap portion of the tube, and the loops formed between these outer limbs and the r-entrant middle portion (on which the closure member is mounted) constitute wings for 35 engagement by the thumb or finger in operating the device. It will thus be clear that when 'the device is swung up into the position of closure the v re-entrant middle portion of the holder will become deformed relatively to the remainder of the holder, when the closure member encounters the rim of the orice .of the tube, by a couple of "forces composed in the first place of the'force applied to the holder, and in the second place of the resistance offered to the closure member at the rim of the tube orifice.

Constructional examples embodying the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

tion, but in the open position, while the two previous views show the same in the position of clo- .55 sure.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a closure -dev'ice Figs. 4 and 5 show, in section and in elevation, respectively, a. modified form of construction of the closure device according to the invention.

Figs. I6 and 7 show a further modification lin sectional elevation. -5 Referring to Fig. 1, I denotes the threaded neck portion of a tube 2 on to which' there is screwed a. cap 3 with a central bore 4 (preferably l of longitudinal cross-section) 5 denotes the side limbs of the dual link holder according to the 10 invention the re-entrant middle portion 6 of which carries the sure member 'I which may consist; for exampl of a small rubber sleeve. The portions of the older between the re-entrant middle portion 6 d. the side limbs 5 are formed 15 into loops 8 whic serve as wings for engagement by the thumb or `finger in operating the device.' The free ends 9 of the side limbs 5 are bent over into engagement with depressions ,I0 in the cap 3, `for the pivotal mounting of the device. .20

In order to close fthe tube the procedure is asv follows: The holder is grasped or otherwise engaged by one or both of the loops 8 and swung up from the open position (shown in Fig. 3) as indicated by the arrow on the extreme right in 25 this figure. As soon as the rubber sleeve 1, in consequence of its distance from the pivot axis I0, encounters the rim a of the orifice ofthe cap 3 and is required to ride thereover the operating I force P constitutes together with the resistance 30 R offered by this rim .to the closure member a force couple which rst deforms the' re-entrant middlel portion of the holder, which is made of suitably resilient material, as indicated in chaindotted lines in Fig.,3, and thus aids the resilient 35 deformation of the closure member itself, and permits the same to ride over the rim of the orice into snapping engagement with the latter `very easily and with the application of but very slight force. As soon as the closure member rides 40 over the orifice rim into the position 'of closure both the re-entrant middle portion of vthe holder and the closure member proper instantly resume their original position and condition, respectively (see Fig. 1), so thatan effective and vreliable seal 45 is obtained. 1-

If the outlet orice 4 of the tube be of very small dimensions it may be suilcient to provide a closure device of the type shown in Figs. 4

and 5. The type of construction shown in these' 50 gures is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. l to 3, only that the web E of the re-entrant middle portion of the holder itself serves, without any additional rubber sleeve, as the closure member proper.

In the form' oi'lconstruction shown in Fig. 6 the closure member-1 is provided on a wire stirrup or link 20 resilientiy associated with a pivoted holder 2l preferably made of composition Vmaterial On the-swinging of the holder 2| the wire link 20 ls resiiiently deformed in the manner described in connection with Fig. 3, with the l same eilect.

v as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. In this case sunicient play must be provided between such casing or 'e envelope and the carrying member to permit of the required resilient yielding movement of the latter.

It is also possible, by `slight modiilcation, to adapt all the-described forms of construction of the closure device according to the invention for use'in connection with bottles and other similar containers.

I claim:

A tube closure adapted for attachment to the tube neck to open and close the outlet through' the neck comprising a closure cap capable of being screwed on the tube neck and provided with an outlet corresponding with the tube outlet, a resilient stirrup preferably of wire, the web of which carries a /resiiiently deformable closure body for the outlet in the closure cap and is provided with two upwardly projecting parts, each part being nrmly connected at the end with an arm, these two arms being extended downwardly below the closure bodyV and provided cn their lower ends with short pins adapted to en-I gage corresponding recesses on opposite points of the closure cap for pivotally mounting the clos(- ure device on the closure cap.

HEINRICH QUI'I'INER. 

